November 2025 - SFD-discuss - lists.mailman3.com

Document Freedom Day 2026 - 25th of March

by Marcos Marado

Hi friends! Document Freedom Day 2026 is going to be celebrated on the **25th of March**, in four months' time. The date was celebrated 18 years ago for the first time, but the issues it highlights are as relevant today as ever, if not more. Open Standards, Interoperability, avoiding vendor lock-in, or as it is nowadays called, "having digital sovereignty", these are daily topics more relevant to everyone, as more and more of our lives are digital lives. Do you have any plans or ideas on how are you going to celebrate the day? Do you plan to organize an event, or join an existing one? Feel free to brainstorm and share your ideas here on the mailing list, I'm looking forward to reading about what you have in mind! Best regards, -- Marcos Marado Digital Freedom Foundation

Nov. 25, 2025

Mascot Design Submission

by Mohamad Itaqi

Dear Digital Freedom Foundation Team, My name is Mohamad Kamel Hafez Khaiata, from Aleppo, Syria. I’ve heard about the Huion Draw Challenge from TechnoLab Youth Team during the participation for Software Freedom Day 2025 in Aleppo, and here is my submission to the contest, with the artwork created in Procreate. I realize that it’s required to be created in a FOSS software, but I unfortunately don’t have any access to a PC to draw it on due to difficult circumstances. I sincerely apologize for the late submission as I had a power outage that held me back from submitting, I hope you consider my artwork in the judging process :) Below I attached the PNG version of the artwork, I can provide the 82 MB Procreate source file if needed too. No AI tools were used in the creation of it. Koa is a time-travellering honeybadger who travelled from the future to the early 2000s to promote the values of free and open source software: sharing knowledge and embracing innovation. He is brave, adventurous, and very passionate about his mission. Koa carries a disc and a flash drive on his waist as keychains, they act as quick access to FOSS software and grant him the ability to spread awareness regarding it more easily. He has logos of multiple iconic FOSS software splattered throughout his design—Godot on his left (robotic) arm acting as a gear to move it, Openshot as his belt, Inkspace symbol on his right shoulder, and Evince on his right leg. He carries the iconic open source symbol (the flipped “C”) on his back, and his mantle is shaped like a “C” shape. Thank you and I hope you consider it!

Nov. 10, 2025

Re: Design the Software Freedom Day 2025 Mascot with Free Software – Huion Challenge now open!

by Cheeseness

Thanks Jurgen! I realise that I neglected to mention which tools I'd used (that was something requested in the rules on the website IIRC). I used Inkscape to make the vector version, Blender to block out the comic panels, and Krita to paint the kite scene and the comic. If it's of value or interest, I shared some behind-the-scenes here[1]. Also, to make sure I haven't forgotten to provide attribution for or celebrate tools/resources I'm using, the comic uses Kevin Burke's Pangolin font, the SDF logo was designed by Jeff Lim and Maxus Media & Software Pty. Ltd of Singapore, and I used some brushes from David Revoy's 2023 brush bundle[2]. [1] https://mastodon.social/@Cheeseness/115437373284047085 [2] https://www.davidrevoy.com/article953/krita-brushes-2023-01-bundle On Mon, 2025-11-10 at 07:30 +0100, Jurgen Gaeremyn wrote: > Hi Cheese, you're one of the submissions for the Mascot challenge. > Thanks for your submission! You'll be hearing from us soon! > Jurgen > Op 22/10/2025 om 15:30 schreef Cheeseness: > > > Hi! > > > > My name's Cheese, and I ran SFD events in Launceston, Tasmania > > between > > 2006 and 2015. I don't do in-person stuff anymore, but I still > > participate in Free Software projects and communities. > > > > I have a Krita source file that's 8.6MB, which might be a bit big > > for > > the mailing list. I'll link to it instead[1]. > > > > Below are my carefully crafted thousand characters: > > > > > > My submission is a kite made from an old SFD banner. I ran out of > > time > > to make this in person, so I painted it instead and wrote this > > about > > the F/OSS movement: > > > > The origin of Free Software lies in empowering people to control > > their own tools, > > To be free to fix their own problems and to make sure their own > > needs are met. > > When combined with humanity, this leads to a culture of sharing > > and inspriation. > > Through communal effort, support, and contribution, we are > > uplifted to new heights, > > And whether close enough to hold hands, or distanced, we are all > > connected, soaring in the same sky. > > > > I also made a 1 colour vector version[2], and an accompanying > > comic[3]. > > > > > > Thanks to all for continuing to champion and celebrate Free > > Software > > and Open Culture all these years. I wholly believe that it enriches > > the > > world and has tangibly improved the lives of many. > > > > - Cheese > > > > > > P.S. I like to imagine that Luis' Faruk is flying one of the kites > > in > > the background (I love that little guy!). > > > > [1] > > https://jbushproductions.com/uploads/sfd2025/sfd_mascot_painting.kra > > [2] > > https://jbushproductions.com/uploads/sfd2025/sfd_mascot_monotone.svg > > [3] https://jbushproductions.com/uploads/sfd2025/sfd_comic.png > > > > On Tue, 2025-05-20 at 14:24 -0400, LM wrote: > > > > > Greetings. > > > > > > Do you love creating with Free,Libre, Open Source Software > > > (FLOSS)? > > > Here’s your chance to show the world what digital freedom looks > > > like: > > > help us design the official Software Freedom Day (SFD) 2025 > > > mascot--built entirely with FLOSS tools and released under CC BY- > > > SA > > > 4.0 or CC BY 4.0. Whether you model in Blender or paint in Krita, > > > 2-D > > > or 3-D is welcome. > > > > > > --- What’s in it for you? --- > > > > > > Huion is back with fantastic prizes for the top entries: > > > 1 - Kamvas Pro 16 (4K) pen-display > > > 2 - Kamvas Pro 12 pen-display > > > 3 - 2 × Inspiroy Frego M tablets > > > > > > --- How to take part --- > > > > > > 1. Create your mascot in any FLOSS graphics tool (Krita, GIMP, > > > Inkscape, Blender, MyPaint, ...). > > > 2. Add a short back-story (≤ 1000 characters). > > > 3. Submit both the source file (.kra/.xcf/.svg/.blend…) and a > > > web-ready image (.png/.jpg, 1920 × 1080). > > > 4. Make sure your work is licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 or CC BY 4.0. > > > 5. Deadline: 20 October 2025. One entry per person, worldwide. > > > > > > --- Need inspiration? --- > > > > > > Last year Janka (Hungary) soared to first prize with a Krita > > > painting, > > > while Deffy (USA) wowed us with a Blender animation and Yue Xin > > > (Malaysia) lit up the canvas in Krita. Their success shows how > > > powerful - and fun - FLOSS creativity can be! > > > > > > --- Why join? --- > > > > > > * Celebrate software freedom and show what’s possible without > > > proprietary constraints. > > > * Get international exposure and feedback from the FLOSS > > > community. > > > * Win Huion hardware to push your art even further. > > > > > > --- Your mission right now --- > > > > > > Forward this challenge to all your creative friends! More entries > > > mean > > > a richer, more colourful mascot showcase for everyone. > > > > > > Thanks for spreading the word and for championing free software > > > creativity. > > > Happy drawing--and good luck! > > > > > > Free-spirited regards, > > > Jurgen, Jan, Chris, Mostafa, Marcos, Ruwan, Laura > > > Digital Freedom Foundation Board > > > _______________________________________________ > > > SFD-discuss mailing list -- sfd-discuss(a)mailman3.com > > > To unsubscribe send an email to sfd-discuss-leave(a)mailman3.com > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > SFD-discuss mailing list -- sfd-discuss(a)mailman3.com > > To unsubscribe send an email to sfd-discuss-leave(a)mailman3.com > > _______________________________________________ > SFD-discuss mailing list -- sfd-discuss(a)mailman3.com > To unsubscribe send an email to sfd-discuss-leave(a)mailman3.com

Nov. 10, 2025

Re: Design the Software Freedom Day 2025 Mascot with Free Software – Huion Challenge now open!

by Jurgen Gaeremyn

Hi Cheese, Thank you for your submission - we will consider it and you will hear back from us! Jurgen Op 22/10/2025 om 15:30 schreef Cheeseness: > Hi! > > My name's Cheese, and I ran SFD events in Launceston, Tasmania between > 2006 and 2015. I don't do in-person stuff anymore, but I still > participate in Free Software projects and communities. > > I have a Krita source file that's 8.6MB, which might be a bit big for > the mailing list. I'll link to it instead[1]. > > Below are my carefully crafted thousand characters: > > > My submission is a kite made from an old SFD banner. I ran out of time > to make this in person, so I painted it instead and wrote this about > the F/OSS movement: > > The origin of Free Software lies in empowering people to control their own tools, > To be free to fix their own problems and to make sure their own needs are met. > When combined with humanity, this leads to a culture of sharing and inspriation. > Through communal effort, support, and contribution, we are uplifted to new heights, > And whether close enough to hold hands, or distanced, we are all connected, soaring in the same sky. > > I also made a 1 colour vector version[2], and an accompanying comic[3]. > > > Thanks to all for continuing to champion and celebrate Free Software > and Open Culture all these years. I wholly believe that it enriches the > world and has tangibly improved the lives of many. > > - Cheese > > > P.S. I like to imagine that Luis' Faruk is flying one of the kites in > the background (I love that little guy!). > > [1]https://jbushproductions.com/uploads/sfd2025/sfd_mascot_painting.kra > [2]https://jbushproductions.com/uploads/sfd2025/sfd_mascot_monotone.svg > [3]https://jbushproductions.com/uploads/sfd2025/sfd_comic.png > > On Tue, 2025-05-20 at 14:24 -0400, LM wrote: >> Greetings. >> >> Do you love creating with Free,Libre, Open Source Software (FLOSS)? >> Here’s your chance to show the world what digital freedom looks like: >> help us design the official Software Freedom Day (SFD) 2025 >> mascot--built entirely with FLOSS tools and released under CC BY-SA >> 4.0 or CC BY 4.0. Whether you model in Blender or paint in Krita, 2-D >> or 3-D is welcome. >> >> --- What’s in it for you? --- >> >> Huion is back with fantastic prizes for the top entries: >> 1 - Kamvas Pro 16 (4K) pen-display >> 2 - Kamvas Pro 12 pen-display >> 3 - 2 × Inspiroy Frego M tablets >> >> --- How to take part --- >> >> 1. Create your mascot in any FLOSS graphics tool (Krita, GIMP, >> Inkscape, Blender, MyPaint, ...). >> 2. Add a short back-story (≤ 1000 characters). >> 3. Submit both the source file (.kra/.xcf/.svg/.blend…) and a >> web-ready image (.png/.jpg, 1920 × 1080). >> 4. Make sure your work is licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 or CC BY 4.0. >> 5. Deadline: 20 October 2025. One entry per person, worldwide. >> >> --- Need inspiration? --- >> >> Last year Janka (Hungary) soared to first prize with a Krita >> painting, >> while Deffy (USA) wowed us with a Blender animation and Yue Xin >> (Malaysia) lit up the canvas in Krita. Their success shows how >> powerful - and fun - FLOSS creativity can be! >> >> --- Why join? --- >> >> * Celebrate software freedom and show what’s possible without >> proprietary constraints. >> * Get international exposure and feedback from the FLOSS community. >> * Win Huion hardware to push your art even further. >> >> --- Your mission right now --- >> >> Forward this challenge to all your creative friends! More entries >> mean >> a richer, more colourful mascot showcase for everyone. >> >> Thanks for spreading the word and for championing free software >> creativity. >> Happy drawing--and good luck! >> >> Free-spirited regards, >> Jurgen, Jan, Chris, Mostafa, Marcos, Ruwan, Laura >> Digital Freedom Foundation Board >> _______________________________________________ >> SFD-discuss mailing list --sfd-discuss(a)mailman3.com >> To unsubscribe send an email tosfd-discuss-leave(a)mailman3.com > > _______________________________________________ > SFD-discuss mailing list --sfd-discuss(a)mailman3.com > To unsubscribe send an email tosfd-discuss-leave(a)mailman3.com

Nov. 10, 2025

Re: Software Freedom Day Mascot - Huion Challenge 2025 Entry

by Jurgen Gaeremyn

Hi Benson, Thank you for your submission - we will consider it and you will hear back from us! Jurgen Op 9/11/2025 om 20:42 schreef Benson Muite: > Possible mascot for SFD. > > Backstory: > Hodari is a kiswahili name for a hardworking and persistent person. > The mascot is a tortoise (animals known to beat hares in long races), > climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro to ascend to Uhuru (freedom) peak. > > The design has been created using Inkscape. Available under CC-BY 4.0. > > Benson > > _______________________________________________ > SFD-discuss mailing list --sfd-discuss(a)mailman3.com > To unsubscribe send an email tosfd-discuss-leave(a)mailman3.com

Nov. 10, 2025

Re: Mascot - Faruk

by Jurgen Gaeremyn

Hi Lapis, Thank you for your submission - we will consider it and you will hear back from us! Jurgen Op 13/09/2025 om 08:07 schreef luisdaniel(a)tuta.io: > Hi, I'm lapis, here is my submission for the mascot contest: Faruk. > Please read the included TXT file. > > Attached: 4 files: TXT, SVG with original artwork, SVG original > artwork with description, PNG with the Artwork (including description). > > Hope you like it as much as I do. > Luis D Louro (lapis) > > -- > Protegido com Tuta Mail: > https://tuta.com/free-email > > _______________________________________________ > SFD-discuss mailing list --sfd-discuss(a)mailman3.com > To unsubscribe send an email tosfd-discuss-leave(a)mailman3.com

Nov. 10, 2025

Re: Design the Software Freedom Day 2025 Mascot with Free Software – Huion Challenge now open!

by Jurgen Gaeremyn

Hi Cheese, you're one of the submissions for the Mascot challenge. Thanks for your submission! You'll be hearing from us soon! Jurgen Op 22/10/2025 om 15:30 schreef Cheeseness: > Hi! > > My name's Cheese, and I ran SFD events in Launceston, Tasmania between > 2006 and 2015. I don't do in-person stuff anymore, but I still > participate in Free Software projects and communities. > > I have a Krita source file that's 8.6MB, which might be a bit big for > the mailing list. I'll link to it instead[1]. > > Below are my carefully crafted thousand characters: > > > My submission is a kite made from an old SFD banner. I ran out of time > to make this in person, so I painted it instead and wrote this about > the F/OSS movement: > > The origin of Free Software lies in empowering people to control their own tools, > To be free to fix their own problems and to make sure their own needs are met. > When combined with humanity, this leads to a culture of sharing and inspriation. > Through communal effort, support, and contribution, we are uplifted to new heights, > And whether close enough to hold hands, or distanced, we are all connected, soaring in the same sky. > > I also made a 1 colour vector version[2], and an accompanying comic[3]. > > > Thanks to all for continuing to champion and celebrate Free Software > and Open Culture all these years. I wholly believe that it enriches the > world and has tangibly improved the lives of many. > > - Cheese > > > P.S. I like to imagine that Luis' Faruk is flying one of the kites in > the background (I love that little guy!). > > [1]https://jbushproductions.com/uploads/sfd2025/sfd_mascot_painting.kra > [2]https://jbushproductions.com/uploads/sfd2025/sfd_mascot_monotone.svg > [3]https://jbushproductions.com/uploads/sfd2025/sfd_comic.png > > On Tue, 2025-05-20 at 14:24 -0400, LM wrote: >> Greetings. >> >> Do you love creating with Free,Libre, Open Source Software (FLOSS)? >> Here’s your chance to show the world what digital freedom looks like: >> help us design the official Software Freedom Day (SFD) 2025 >> mascot--built entirely with FLOSS tools and released under CC BY-SA >> 4.0 or CC BY 4.0. Whether you model in Blender or paint in Krita, 2-D >> or 3-D is welcome. >> >> --- What’s in it for you? --- >> >> Huion is back with fantastic prizes for the top entries: >> 1 - Kamvas Pro 16 (4K) pen-display >> 2 - Kamvas Pro 12 pen-display >> 3 - 2 × Inspiroy Frego M tablets >> >> --- How to take part --- >> >> 1. Create your mascot in any FLOSS graphics tool (Krita, GIMP, >> Inkscape, Blender, MyPaint, ...). >> 2. Add a short back-story (≤ 1000 characters). >> 3. Submit both the source file (.kra/.xcf/.svg/.blend…) and a >> web-ready image (.png/.jpg, 1920 × 1080). >> 4. Make sure your work is licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 or CC BY 4.0. >> 5. Deadline: 20 October 2025. One entry per person, worldwide. >> >> --- Need inspiration? --- >> >> Last year Janka (Hungary) soared to first prize with a Krita >> painting, >> while Deffy (USA) wowed us with a Blender animation and Yue Xin >> (Malaysia) lit up the canvas in Krita. Their success shows how >> powerful - and fun - FLOSS creativity can be! >> >> --- Why join? --- >> >> * Celebrate software freedom and show what’s possible without >> proprietary constraints. >> * Get international exposure and feedback from the FLOSS community. >> * Win Huion hardware to push your art even further. >> >> --- Your mission right now --- >> >> Forward this challenge to all your creative friends! More entries >> mean >> a richer, more colourful mascot showcase for everyone. >> >> Thanks for spreading the word and for championing free software >> creativity. >> Happy drawing--and good luck! >> >> Free-spirited regards, >> Jurgen, Jan, Chris, Mostafa, Marcos, Ruwan, Laura >> Digital Freedom Foundation Board >> _______________________________________________ >> SFD-discuss mailing list --sfd-discuss(a)mailman3.com >> To unsubscribe send an email tosfd-discuss-leave(a)mailman3.com > > _______________________________________________ > SFD-discuss mailing list --sfd-discuss(a)mailman3.com > To unsubscribe send an email tosfd-discuss-leave(a)mailman3.com

Nov. 10, 2025

Re: Huion Mascot Design Contest Quesion

by Jurgen Gaeremyn

Hi Kamel, Hi, I understand the difficulty of your situation. If your image doesn't use any of the fancy features, I suggest that we add your submission to the bottom of the list. This means that you can win a prize if there are less that 4 other submissions. As the list is open, you will have noticed that at this point there are only 3 submissions. Good luck (and don't forget to submit in time). Jurgen Op 9/11/2025 om 18:30 schreef Mohamad Itaqi: > Hello! > > My name is Kamel, a contestant from Syria. I would absolutely love to > take part of the contest and I have already designed a mascot out of > love for the idea, but I don’t have access to any laptop therefore I > had to paint it on Procreate-not free nor open source-as I know > someone I borrowed an iPad from to paint it. May I still participate > in the competition despite the mascot being design in a paid app? > > Sincerely, > > _______________________________________________ > SFD-discuss mailing list --sfd-discuss(a)mailman3.com > To unsubscribe send an email tosfd-discuss-leave(a)mailman3.com

Nov. 9, 2025

Software Freedom Day Mascot - Huion Challenge 2025 Entry

by Benson Muite

Possible mascot for SFD. Backstory: Hodari is a kiswahili name for a hardworking and persistent person. The mascot is a tortoise (animals known to beat hares in long races), climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro to ascend to Uhuru (freedom) peak. The design has been created using Inkscape. Available under CC-BY 4.0. Benson

Nov. 9, 2025

Huion Mascot Design Contest Quesion

by Mohamad Itaqi

Hello! My name is Kamel, a contestant from Syria. I would absolutely love to take part of the contest and I have already designed a mascot out of love for the idea, but I don’t have access to any laptop therefore I had to paint it on Procreate-not free nor open source-as I know someone I borrowed an iPad from to paint it. May I still participate in the competition despite the mascot being design in a paid app? Sincerely,

Nov. 9, 2025